§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that 66 per cent. of corned beef samples tested officially in Dorset were adulterated or not up to standard; how this compares with other parts of the country; and what action he takes to examine consignments on arrival in this country.
§ Mr. HoyNo. But we are aware that in a period of just over three years 14 samples resulting from complaints by consumers and one other sample were tested, and of these eight were found to be unsatisfactory.
The period in question was 1st April, 1963, to 30th June, 1966. In every case the food and drugs authority took such action as they considered appropriate in the circumstances. The complaints related to the presence of foreign bodies in, or the appearance, taste or smell of, the particular corned beef.
Bearing in mind the large quantities of corned beef consumed annually, we do not consider that these figures give cause for anxiety.
It is not possible to give comparable figures for other parts of the country.
Consignments of corned beef arriving in this country may be examined and sampled by authorised officers of port health authorities under powers conferred on these authorities by the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1937.